182) Playing a long game

Noisy Pitta

I am beginning to think that bird photography is like Aikido or a Zen koan- or visa versa. It happens when you are looking and not looking, are present but not demanding. Some days it just happens. We were headed back to the car after another dip on getting a good pardalote picture when our local Pitta hopped on a branch in the sun! Now this is a shy bird, known for staying in dense, dark thickets - I have been happy to glimpse him much less get a clear line. He sunned for about 90 secs before heading off into the shadows

Quick now, how do I get this flash turned off?

Today I was headed back to the car to go to the Uni and this Spotted Pardalote (who I had been tracking by his call through the bush for 30 min) suddenly landed on a branch 30 feet away and called and called and called (note the erect posture and raised "mohawk". It is hard to believe such a tiny bird  makes a call you hear 1 km away!). But this photography stuff is a long game - he would not turn to let me get a photo of his spectacular red tail feathers!

Usually -just- too far for a good picture, the Red- Backed fairy Wren  has previously only offered very brief close views. But at Eagleby this beautiful guy came to sit on a  branch for about 60 secs.

Another on my list of distant canopy feeders, I finally found  this Scarlet Honeyeater  lower in the branches.

 At Sundown the banksia were in bloom and there were dozens of New Holland Honeyeaters.

 I know the feeling -a remarkable yawn (!) from a Black Shouldered kite. (really now, do birds yawn?)

The Red Browed finches are about in force. It is great fun to see them out in the clear

181) Locally far away

Although Dirk's quest for the perfect pardalote picture continues, this one's pretty darn good!  The spotted pardalotes weren't calling (how we usually find them), so a big thumb's up to Claire for spotting the spotted pardalote high up in the tree hanging with the other leaves!




We learned from Claire (researching migrants) that these silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) are migrants from Tasmania, coming up to join us in the subtropical climes for the winter.

If you want to know how the Silvereyes (above) get to be so pretty, we learned the secret!  Here's two Silvereyes canoodling on a branch.  First, the guy on the left prepared by fluffing out his head feathers and getting a dreamy-googley-eyed vacant expression on his face that signified "do me, baby!"  The bird on the right complied by preening him.  Next, the bird on the right assumed the wild-haired 'do me baby' expression, and the coiffed bird on the left complied.  It was really quite sweet, seeing them reveling in their morning ablutions so affectionately!  Ok, a little anthropomorphizing was called for in this situation--too cute!

Portrait of a white-plumed honeyeater displaying his namesake.